Disclaimer: Seeing as, this disclaimer thing has gotten way out of hand, I, the insane author of this 'fan'-fiction will allow you, the reader to improvise. So without further ado I present the new and improved method of crediting disclaimers. At the beep… please fill in the blank with your favorite disclaimer (so that I won't have to fill it in for ye.) BEEP (fill in the blank with your disclaimer now.)_______
The Joy of the Hunt
By: Dragon Demon
Rating: PG-13 for violence, brief language and sensuality.
Summary: Set in motion after Jack's escape from Port Royal, the crew of the Black Pearl pay a visit to Tortuga where Jack repossess a valuable trinket he left behind. In doing so, he has unleashed a chain of events that will lead him on a wild goose chase for treasure, love and survival
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Anamaria headed for the window when Jack gently placed his hands on her shoulders as he looked at her. "Anamaria, I can't do this without your help. That trinket means a lot to me, almost as much as the Pearl."
Anamaria adverted her gaze. "I know Jack. Nothin' means more to ye than that ship." She shook her head, "And I'm not goin' to go along with this plan. I won't do it."
"Why not?"
"Because Jack, this plan involves me wearing a dress!" Anamaria huffed. "And I'm not wearing no dress!"
Vera stepped in then and said, "But Anamaria. It's not like anyone is going to know but Jack-"
Anamaria cut her off. "And that's part of me problem, Vera! Ye don't know Jack like I do." She glared at him. "He'd waste no time in tellin' the rest of the crew about this."
Jack looked hurt. "I would ne'er do somethin' like that, love."
Anamaria stepped back. "Ye are a lyin', no good, boat stealin' scoundrel and if ye think for one minute I'd believe ye, Jack Sparrow, then ye are mistaken."
Jack frowned having been caught but instead of making a come back he shrugged. "I won't tell anyone, not if ye help me."
"And if I don't?"
Jack turned from her. "Then ye don't. And if ye don't, then I'll get some one else to help me and if I have to get some one else to help me, well then… I'll know who not to ask when I need a hand." He paused and then continued, "And I'll also tell Gibbs who broke his favorite flask by usin' it to scrub barnacles off the ship."
Anamaria gasped and spun around. "Fine, Jack Sparrow. If that's the way ye are gonna be." She marched up to Vera and stated, "I'll do it."
Vera nodded and told her, "Don't worry. It won't be for long. Just long enough for Jack to get the key's to my father's study." She smiled as she led Anamaria out the door and down the hall.
---
Jack looked in the mirror and straightened out his jacket. As per the plan, he too had agreed to play the part and wear a suit. Downstairs he could hear music and voices from the ball the Governor was having.
He tapped his foot to the music and continued to straighten out the jacket and the pants. Finally the door opened and an older man stepped in. "Sir, Lady Vera is finished and waiting for you in the foyer."
"Ah, wonderful!" Jack exclaimed as he looked in the mirror one last time and then followed the man. In his mind, Jack was grumbling just as much as Anamaria had been, but it was a plan and one that would work, he hoped. And with his treasure on the line, he'd gladly do what it took to get it back without being caught and thrown in jail.
He had had enough of jails; that he was sure of.
When they arrived downstairs to the foyer, Jack saw Vera standing there, idly chewing on her thumbnail. Her back was to him as she impatiently waited for his arrival.
"Impatient, are we?" Jack jested as he stood beside her.
Vera jumped in surprise and turned to him, the shock evident on her face. "Jack… you look so.. so different! Almost handsome in a sort of- vile, roguish way."
Jack bowed. "Why thank ye." He looked around. "Where's Anamaria?"
Vera gestured to a door behind her. "In there… she didn't feel like waiting out here for you. Said that if you couldn't be on time, she sure wouldn't be."
Jack chuckled. "That's my Anamaria." As if on cue, the door opened and a maid stepped out, her back towards Jack and Vera. It was clear to the two that she was trying her best to pull something out from inside the confines of the room.
"C'mon miss. You're gonna be late and Mrs. Vera doesn't like it when people are tardy." The maid was saying as she struggled at the door.
From inside there was a sharp curse and, "Hey, don't push! Stop pullin' me! Hey, Let Go!"
Vera rushed to the door and said in a hushed tone, "Now, Miss. Anamaria. Come on, Jack's waiting for you. You can't keep him waiting all night long."
"Wanna bet?" Anamaria retorted.
By some stroke of luck or perhaps a hefty push from the maid inside, Anamaria soon found herself standing in the hallway with several pairs of eyes on her. The one she felt the most were the eyes of Jack. She fidgeted under the scrutiny before asking rather loudly, "What are you lookin' at?"
Everyone but Vera and Jack stopped staring and even then, Vera found it hard to not advert her gaze, afraid she was embarrassing the poor woman more.
Jack stood still as his eyes traveled over Anamaria. Her long dark hair had been pinned up with loose curls tumbling out of the hold and around her face. Vera had said she had a natural beauty about her, and therefore, didn't bother with rouge.
Jack noted her brown eyes stood out in contrast to the light blue dress she wore. It was long and billowed out, with a diamond cut bodice and a square neckline. The sleeves were short, allowing Anamaria to move her arms freely and a small necklace rested carefully around her neck.
All in all, Jack had to give Vera credit for making Anamaria look every part a woman. Anamaria squirmed under the close observation of the man before talking.
"Jack, stop starin' at me." She demanded softly as she looked away.
The question brought him back to realization as he said, "I'm sorry. It's just… ye look so- so…" he couldn't find the right words and Anamaria filled them in for him. "Different." She stated. In her mind she was screaming at him, Just say it ye old fool! I look ugly. Ugly and refined. I hate you, Jack Sparrow!
"…lovely." Jack whispered as he found the word he was looking for.
Anamaria's head snapped up. " W-what?" she stared at him. "Are ye drunk? Or maybe it's because you're daft. And blind." She could have gone on all night long but Jack finally silenced her by saying, "You look fine, love. Now let's go get that key so I can get me treasure and we can get out of here."
"No arguments there," Anamaria agreed as Jack took her arm and led her out of the foyer.
---
"Ok Jack." Vera was talking. "That's my father, over there. To his right is Commodore Malone. To his left, is Lieutenant Cromwell. The man beside Cromwell is my husband, Thomas. My father usually keeps the keys in his right inside pocket. However, I don't think that particular jacket has inside pockets, but they will be on the right, regardless."
Jack nodded as he listened carefully. "Once you get the keys, head through those doors there," she pointed at a door that was open to the guests that lead to a hallway. "From there, go up the stairs, hang a right and it's the door at the end of the hall. Understand?"
"Got it," Jack answered as Anamaria nodded.
Vera nodded her own acknowledgment before adding, "And remember… where there's a will, there's a way. I must go now before my father and Thomas get worried about me." With that, she quickly disappeared through the throng of people.
Jack turned to Anamaria who still seemed uncomfortable and asked, "How ye doin'?"
She glared at him and answered, "Just peachy. Considerin' I'm wearin' a dress and am standin' here with you while you play Mr. Noble."
"Great!" Jack replied, "Now where's the rum?"
Anamaria rolled her eyes and sighed. "I don't know, Jack. Maybe ye should forget the rum and just focus on getting those keys."
"Not without my rum," Jack mumbled as he left her side to find where they kept the vile drink.
Anamaria suddenly felt even more out of place standing in the middle of the room, alone, among people she didn't know. Couples pushed past her as others danced around her. She stepped out of the way and tried to hide among the people just milling around but didn't have much luck.
She stomped her foot impatiently as she muttered, "Jack, you filthy bastard, where'd ye go?" She tried standing on her tiptoes to see over the heads of the people standing in front of her, but was unable to do so with the shoes she wore.
It was most unfortunate that she lost her balance, due to the traitorous shoes she wore, and stumbled forward to the ground. She felt two arms grab her, breaking her fall, and began to say, "It's about time you came back! Where have ye-" she stopped when she noticed it wasn't Jack who stood there.
"Oh! I'm sorry. I thought you were some one else," she apologized.
A young man stood there, his arms around her. "My apologies, Miss."
Anamaria faltered. His brown eyes held hers in a locked gaze as she stammered her own apology once again. He wasn't bad looking, for a noble, she thought. His brown hair was tied back and his tanned skin and suit made his eyes stand out.
She nodded, too dumbfounded to speak. Anamaria's eye caught sight of someone behind the young man and frowned. Jack, she wondered. It was indeed Jack, but before the pirate could get to her, a young woman came up to the man.
"What are you doing?" the woman asked, as she saw the young man's arms around Anamaria.
The man jumped and pulled his arms back. "It's not what it looks like, darling. I promise."
"He's right. I stumbled and he was kind enough to help me." Anamaria piped up.
The woman was about to say something else, when a hand grabbed the young man's shoulder and spun him around. "Hey you, get your hands off of her!" Anamaria moved around the man and took hold of Jack's arm trying to get him to release the lad.
The young woman suddenly cried out, "Jack!"
Jack looked up at the young woman. "Elizabeth!"
The young man tilted his head as Jack released him. "Jack!"
Jack faced the man. "Will!"
Will and Elizabeth stared at the woman who stood beside Jack. After what seemed like an eternity, it dawned on Will who she was. "Anamaria?"
Anamaria cringed. "Hello Turner." She said with sarcasm. She looked past him and scrunched her nose. In a last ditch effort to get the three pairs of eyes off of her, she said, "Norrington!"
Jack, Elizabeth and Will turned in the direction Anamaria was looking and asked, "Norrington?"
"I don't see him." Will stated as he looked around.
Anamaria smirked. Jack looked at her and she made show of sighing with relief. "It must have been me imagination." She quickly added trying to elude Jack.
Jack scowled at her and gave her a playful smack on the hind end to which she abruptly countered with a punch to his arm.
Jack jumped back and regarded her with mirth in his eyes as he said, "Oww, love that hurts." Anamaria uttered a cry of frustration and walked off grumbling leaving the three friends to catch up.
---
"You look very nice this evening, Anamaria." Will commented to the young woman as she leaned against a table on the edge of the room. When he got no answer from her he said, "Normally, one says 'thank you' when they are given a compliment."
Anamaria tilted her head and cast a glance at him. "Thanks," she mumbled as she slowly took a sip of the drink in her hand.
Will raised an eyebrow and asked, "Care to dance?"
The young woman's head snapped up as she looked at the man beside her. "What about your fiancée?"
"You mean my wife?" Will corrected with amusement.
Anamaria murmured an apology and nodded. "Take a look for yourself." Will told her as he gestured out at the dance floor where Jack and Elizabeth were dancing.
Will caught a shadow flicker across Anamaria's face before she finally agreed and allowed Will to lead her out on the floor.
"So why are ye two here?" Anamaria asked as Will led her around the floor.
Will frowned. "Oh, it was Elizabeth's father's idea. He thought it would be good if the two of us got out and since Governor Swann and Governor Garrison are long time friends, we were invited to join the festivities this year. Unfortunately the Governor was unable to make it due to important business." Will rolled his eyes. "Frankly, I believe he just didn't want to come and I can't say I don't blame him."
Anamaria laughed as she agreed. "Aye, that's understandable. I envy the bloke for havin' been able to escape this torture."
Will chuckled as they continued to dance, other couples, passing or occasionally bumping into them as they went.
It wasn't long before they bumped into Jack and Elizabeth and Anamaria soon found herself being whisked away by Jack as he and Will traded partners. As they took a turn around the floor Jack spoke, "It's getting late. We should retrieve that key and get out of here before the party ends."
"No arguments here," Anamaria quipped as she frowned. "My feet are startin' to kill me."
Jack grinned slyly at her. "See, now you're startin' to sound like a lady."
Anamaria punched him playfully as she grumbled with exasperation. As the song ended, Jack quickly led her across the room to where the Governor stood with his entourage. Jack made his way through the throng of nobles before coming to a stop outside the small circle around Garrison.
Picking up on the topic at hand, Jack idly added, "Come now, Lieutenant Cromwell. We all know that your plan of defense will fail when the first wave of a raid comes through those gates."
Several pairs of eyes swept to Jack and Anamaria in questioning as the two stepped forward. Anamaria stiffened and quickly spotted Vera standing to the side of her husband.
"And who, pray tell, might you be, sir? I don't think I recall your name." Cromwell replied with an edge of bitterness.
Jack gave a slight nod and bowed as he exclaimed, "My name is Jackson Curtis. And this is my wife, Ana."
Anamaria nearly choked as the words came from Jack's mouth. What in the name of Hades… she wondered as he was introduced to the others.
Garrison pointed at the people and named them off, until he finally came to Vera. "And this is my eldest daughter, Vera and her husband Thomas. Behind her," he paused and gestured to a figure behind Vera. "Is my youngest daughter, Laurel."
Jack took her hand and kissed it as she said hello. "So you are the new teller at the bank, am I correct?" Laurel asked flirtatiously.
Jack answered with a smile and said, "That I am, Madame."
"I look forward to doing business with you, Mr. Curtis."
Laurel smiled sweetly before being ushered away by her father. After what seemed an eternity, Jack finally excused himself and Ana from the group, but not before shaking hands with the Governor and embracing the man in a friendly manner.
When they were out of earshot and view, Jack reached into his pocket and withdrew something shiny that clung to his finger. Anamaria's face lit up as he jingled the keys in front of her. Grabbing them she said, "Finally! Now I can get out of these bloody shoes."
Keeping from view of other guests, the two pirates quickly made their way up the stairs and to the study. Jack stealthily unlocked the door and slipped inside. Anamaria closed the door noiselessly behind her and turned to look at Jack.
"Jack… those things ye told the Governor," she trailed off.
The pirate captain stopped his search for the treasure. "Vera told me to tell her father those things, Anamaria. She said it would be the perfect cover-up considerin' that the real Mr. Curtis is out of town. Luckily for us, they have no clue as to anythin' but their last names and Mr. Curtis' occupation. Now stop standin' there like a school girl and help me."
Anamaria shook her head in disgust and went about the room searching for any sign of what would resemble a treasure Jack would own. After an hour or so, Anamaria huffed with frustration and leaned against the desk, her signal that she was through searching. Jack continued to comb through the numerous books lined on the shelves on the walls.
"Jack, ye might as well give up. We've been searchin' for an hour or more and we still haven't found anythin'."
A quick glare and a curse rewarded her as Jack made his way to another shelf. "I'm not leavin' until I have me treasure back where it belongs, savvy?"
"Aye," Anamaria answered tiredly as she began another search through the desk drawers. Convinced nothing was there, she moved on to another cabinet which she had previously unlocked using the keys Jack had 'borrowed without permission.' Sifting through papers and knick-knacks alike, Anamaria slammed the door shut as the search came up empty handed.
"Quite love, we don't want them to know we're up here while they are down there." Jack scolded gently as he walked about.
Anamaria huffed. "There's no way we're gonna find that treasure, Jack, in such a small amount of time!"
"Now what was it that Vera was saying about a way…" Jack pondered out loud. As if some one had smacked him, he exclaimed, "Oh yes! Where there's a will, there's a way."
Scowling at her captain, Anamaria scoffed, "Yeah, well my will to stay here, in this dress and these shoes any longer, has faded." She turned to head for the door. "And there's no way I'm stayin' here to continue this little treasure hunt o-" she suddenly stopped as her eyes rested on something that hung upon the wall above the desk.
Cocking her head slightly she smiled. "Jack."
"Not now, love, I'm busy."
"Jack!"
Jack sighed loudly, clearly annoyed that he had to stop his searching for only gods knew what as Anamaria insisted he look at her. "What?"
Anamaria pointed at the object that held her gaze. "Look."
Jack came up beside her and eyed the object. "So what, it's an old wagon wheel. What's so bloody fascinating about an old wagon wheel?!"
Instead of slapping him like she so wanted to, Anamaria gently took hold of his arm and whispered, "It's right where Vera said it would be."
"What are you talkin' about?" Jack questioned. "How much did ye have to drink tonight, Anamaria."
"Would ye just shut up for one minute and listen for once!" Anamaria snapped at him. "Look! Vera said that where there's a wheel, there's a way."
Like a boot crashing down on his head, Jack realized what Anamaria meant. "So it is!" He quickly scrambled over behind the desk and studied the wagon wheel on the wall. Carefully he removed the antique from the wall as Anamaria gasped.
"Is that..?" Anamaria started.
Jack grinned. "Aye love. We've hit the jackpot!"
---
Author's Corner- Alas, an end to such rubbish. Ok, this chapter delves more into the story plot, as you can well see. It actually takes you inside the small town of Port Antonio where Jack gets the chance to search for his treasure among the Governor's manor. It's not much, I know, but it's an insight and a little more depth as to how they get inside, what they find and of course, a small cameo appearance by Will and Elizabeth.
I know this chapter was kind of sucky, but I had to throw it in for the sake of getting Will and Elizabeth in there some where. They don't much fit into the beginning of the story, but they do appear near the end, once again, so rest assured. I also used this chapter to play around with Jack and Anamaria's characters a bit. Just a smidgen, though. Jack of course, is still… Jack. I'm sure those few hints of the old Captain shone through just when you thought he was getting out of whack.
Of course, the characters, Vera and Laurel Garrison, will probably be obsolete after chapter 8, because they were just stepping-stones. I'm thinking of bringing in Port Antonio's Commodore and Lieutenant later on in the story, as well as Norrington. That has yet to be decided.
Ok, I think that about wraps it up for this chapter. I've hoped you enjoyed it and I look forward to seeing you all next chapter.
Review Thanks-
Cal- Hello once again friend! And once again, thanks for the wonderful review. The knocking off of Jack's block comes much later. Much, much later. I hope your theory was right, or close to. If not, email me what your theory is, and I'll see if I can fit it in some where, ok? Always welcome to any and all hints or suggestions, if it'll make the story more interesting to the reader. Hope to hear from you soon!
-Dragon Demon